The General Judgement

In this post I am going to be focussing on the General Judgement. Like I stated in the last post we are one day closer to the second coming of Christ, therefore we are one day closer to our final and General Judgement. So, let us be prepared !One item about the General Judgement that I would like to clear up right from the start. If , after our Particular Judgement, we are graced with the Beatific Vision (seeing God face to face in Heaven), we don’t have to worry that God might change His mind. In other words, if we are in heaven or purgatory after we die here on earth, than we don’t have to worry that at the General Judgement that God may decide to change His mind and toss us in Hell. It doesn’t work that way. I am going to borrow a line that some of my protestant brothers and sisters occasionally use, “ Once saved, always saved.” Of course, I am only using “once saved always saved” in reference to the particular and general judgements. Another day, we will look at the false doctrine of “once saved always saved”, but not today. I really hope that didn’t confuse anyone.

To use an analogy that is Catholic, the General Judgement is to the Particular Judgement what Confirmation is to Baptism. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, our Baptism is actually completed and strengthened. It is like this at the General Judgement, it is a confirmation of sorts, of our Particular Judgement. Or, if we are alive on earth and have not actually died when the General Judgement takes place, than it will be likened to getting Baptism and Confirmation one after another or combined. Like I said, just using an analogy to help in explaining the General Judgement.

So, what can be expected at the General Judgement. Well folks, to be very blunt, this is what EVERYTHING is leading up to. EVERYTHING is pointing to this very moment in history. HIS story, get it…This is His story and He has so kindly and lovingly willed us to be a part of it and to share in His love.

God , in His wisdom, mercy and justice will reveal to the world, and everyone who ever lived , how each person actually fit into the grand scheme of time. The General Judgement is social. We will all be unveiled publicly, every single last one of us. All of our acts of charity, or evil for that matter, will be open and exposed for each and everyone to see. We will also see how these acts played out, and the long lasting and life changing effects that good, and evil had on mankind as a whole. Gods mercy, and His justice will all make sense at that time. A thought occurred while meditating on this topic. You know how sometimes we ask God the question WHY? Why God, did this or that child die. How could you let so many people get killed? Why did you let my mother get cancer? Why did my dad die at 63 and now my mom is without her husband? … God, in His love, compassion, understanding, mercy and justice will answer ALL of these questions, every single one of them. Not because He has to, because He will. All will be explained, and all will also make complete and perfect sense to everybody, and I mean everybody.

Now, here are a few references to the General Judgement taken from scripture. Here is where the Truth speaks and should wake us up a lot, hopefully. The reason I say this is because the choices we make, and the actions we take, while here on earth, will decide for us whether we choose to go to Hell, or to Heaven. Yes, we decide whether we go to Heaven or Hell by what we do, or by what we do not do for that matter. God confirms our decision. Once we die, our will is fixed, no turning back from this point. So lets get this right folks, and use the long standing teachings of the Catholic Church to be our sure and certain guide, to hopefully get to Heaven with Gods grace.

Oh yes, the Scripture references to the General Judgement. Let us look at Matthew Chapter 25, and these verses speak for themselves. Little commentary is needed here. Here goes, ” [31] And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty. [32] And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: [33] And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. [34] Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” All the angels, yes it says ALL the ANGELS! That is a lot of angels, billions and billions , maybe more. Oh, and notice that Jesus is coming as a King in His majesty, and going to be judging us. One more thing, notice how Jesus tells us that the kingdom is, and was actually prepared for us from the beginning of the world. Prepared for us, for you. I love that part. Just saying…

Their is more here from Matthew 25, let us look ” [35] For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in:[36] Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. [37] Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? [38] And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? [39] Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? [40] And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.[41] Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. [42] For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. [43] I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you covered me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. [44] Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? [45] Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.[46] And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.” Notice what it states in verse 41. Hell was not prepared for us, but for the wicked devil and his demons. So why would we ever choose this horrible eternity. Let us choose to try and take part in Gods Holy will for us and try to participate with abundance of grace that is available to us through prayer and the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. So much grace is available to us through the Catholic Church, it is amazing!

One more point that I definitely have to cover is that the General Judgement will take place after the resurrection of our bodies. We will all face the Just Judge with body and soul. Also, our eternal destiny will also be in body and soul, either in Heaven or in Hell.

A couple more pieces from Sacred Scripture about the General Judgement from Luke Chapter 12 ” [3] For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness, shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers, shall be preached on the housetops. [4] And I say to you, my friends: Be not afraid of them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. [5] But I will shew you whom you shall fear: fear ye him, who after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear him.”This is Jesus speaking here , we should listen up probably.

From Psalm 48 in Douay Rheims, or 49 in RSV we read in verse [2]Hear these things, all ye nations: give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world. [3] All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and poor together. And in Canticles Chapter 8 verse [6] Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy as hard as hell, the lamps thereof are fire and flames.

St John also speaks about the General Judgement in Chapter 5 of the Gospel verse: [28]” Wonder not at this; for the hour cometh, wherein all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. [29] And they that have done good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.” Judgement here is condemnation by the way.

Next post, we will be looking at Heaven, Hell, Purgatory and or, some combination of these topics. So, that being said, if you have made it this far in this post good for you, their is hope after all. I know some people just balk or altogether, or just shut right down when the word hell is brought up. It is as if they are gonna live forever, or some may even be convinced that the actual place doesn’t exist. Some people are gonna be in for one huge surprise. Well, believe me, and much more, believe the Catholic Church and Jesus Christ, that Heaven, Hell and Purgatory are all more real than the false bill of goods that the world has been trying to feed us.

If these topics make you feel uneasy that is a good sign. If these topics shut you right down or you choose to completely look the opposite way and pretend its all not real, maybe you should consider going to Sacramental Confession. Confession makes these topics a little easier to stomach, really you should try it. I try and go at least every couple of weeks. It is amazing how after going to Confession regularly makes these topics easier to look at.

As always feel free to comment, criticize or just say hello in the comment box at the top of the post

til next time, unless of course Jesus comes back before I write my next post, just saying, we never know the day or the hour…

May Almighty God Bless us and protect us from the world, the devil and ourselves